Healthy red foods for you and your sweetheart on Valentine's Day

CLEVELAND - If you're looking for a unique dinner to do for Valentine's Day, go red. You can put together a really good meal with foods that are red and healthy, too.

Julia Zumpano is a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Preventive Cardiology. Zumpano says you can't go wrong whipping up a dish with red beans, which are filled with folate.

"Folate helps lower homocysteine levels. And homocysteine levels, if they're high, can cause more insult to the lining of your arteries and plaque buildup,” said Zumpano.

Red beans are also big on protein, which can help stabilize blood sugars and are low in calories.

Red peppers and tomatoes are loaded with lycopene, which is earning a reputation of helping to prevent prostate and other cancers.

A glass of red wine with dinner will provide you the antioxidant power of resveratrol, which helps to increase good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol.

And for dessert, Zumpano recommends putting something together with some red fruits like pomegranates, strawberries or raspberries.

"I think berries are a great way to top something like a Greek yogurt, even a low-fat chocolate pudding, or making a parfait with the yogurt, some berries, and then some whole grain granola or low-fat cereal,” said Zumpano.

Zumpano says to let Valentine's Day give you the chance to try some foods you may not have eaten before. Sharing with your special someone will make it more of an adventure.